Container



Oct. 5, 1937. D. c. SHEPARD 2,094,683

CONTAINER Filed June a, 1955 Inventor David C. Shepard Patented Oct. 5,1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to containers and has for an object to provide acontainer whereby a separate wall structure and a bottom therefor may besecurely and firmly attached to one another.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the wall structureand bottom from a flexible material such as paper and in forming on thebottom a flange integral with the bottom and bent downwardly therefrom,said flange being adapted to lie adjacent the lowermost marginal portionof said wall structure.

A feature of the invention resides in using fastening means such asstaples or the like for securing the said flange to the lowermostmarginal portion of the wall structure.

Another object of the invention resides in pro-. viding a metal hoopU-shaped in cross-section with inner and outer flanges and a connectingportion serving as a base, said hoop embracing the lowermost portion ofsaid wall structure and said bottom flange and serving to cover andprotect said fastening means.

An object of the invention resides in constructing said hoop so that thebase of said hoop has a supporting area greater in width than thecombined thickness of the lowermost marginal portion of the wallstructure and the bottom flange.

Another objectof the invention resides in attaching to the bottom flangean annulus which may be constructed of paper or other suitable materialand which stiffens and reinforces the bottom construction of thecontainer.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the hoopof such dimensions as to embrace the lowermost marginal portion of thewall structure, the bottom flange and the annulus.

This invention is an improvement of the invention disclosed in theapplication for patent of Swan Smith, Serial Number 759,212, filedDecember 26, 1934, and which was duly assigned to me December 1'7, 1934,and recorded in Transfers of Patents Liber T 161, page 642.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container illustrating an embodimentof my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the body construction of thecontainer taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig.2 showing the construction andarrangement of the lowermost portion of the container prior to theapplication of the hoop thereto.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hoop detached from thecontainer.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the bottomstructure of the container illustrating the manner of attaching theannulus and bottom to the wall structure of the container;

It has been found that the bottom structure of containers such asillustrated in the application for patent of Swan Smith, above referredto, will easily bend or become distorted when undue pressure is appliedto the same, as would occur in the event that the filled container wasdropped for any appreciable distance while inclined upon a concretefloor. The present invention overcomes this defect by providing aconstruction which reinforces the bottom construction of the containerand which prevents bending or distortion of the hoop and associatedstructure when the container is roughly handled.

A container embodying my invention is shown in Fig. 1 and is indicatedin its entirety by the reference numeral A. This container comprises abody l open at thetop and having a separate wall structure H, and abottom I! attached to the wall structure ll through a hoop I3. Thesevarious parts will now be described in detail.

The wall structure I I is preferably constructed of sheets of paper laidone upon the other and glued together to form a composite structuresubstantially homogeneous. The wall structure II when the container isused as ,a butter tub is preferably conical as shown in Fig. 1 and isopen at the top and bottom, being continuous circumferentially. The topof the container may be closed by means of any suitable cover. Suchconstruction forming no particular feature of the invention, has notbeen shown in the drawing.

The bottom I2 is constructed from sheets of paper disposed one upon theother and glued together. The assembled sheets are pressed in suitabledies to form the bottom proper l4 and a flange l extending downwardlytherefrom. In the application of the bottom to the wall structure of thecontainer, the bottom I2 is inserted into the interior of the container.The flange l5 of said bottom is of such dimensions as to cause the sameto fit tightly within the lowermost marginal portion l1 of the wallstructure II when the lower edge l8v of said flange is substantiallyflush with the lower edge IQ of the container wall structure ll. Due tothe fact that the flange l 5 is constructed by bending the material ofthe bottom, a rounded corner I6 is formed between the bottom proper andthe flange I5. This leaves an annular crevice 2I which extends aboutsaid bottom and which is disposed between the corner I6 and the wallstructure II as best shown in Fig. 3.

, Disposed adjacent the interior of the flange I of bottom I2 is anannulus 22. This annulus may be constructed of a strip of paper woundupon itself and glued together. .The annulus 22 is of a thickness equalto or greater than the thickness of the wall structure II or the flangeI5. This annulus is of the same height as the flange I5 so that theupper edge 23 thereof abuts against the lowermost surface 24 of thebottom proper I4 of bottom I2 and the lowermost edge 25 of said annuluslies flush with the edges I8 and I9 of flange I5 and wall structure II.The annulus 22 is preferably glued to the flange I5. The said annulus isfurther attached to the container by means of a number of staples 25.These staples extend jointly through the annulus 22, bottom flange I5and the lowermost marginal portion I! of the wall structure II. The saidstaples are formed with legs 21 and 28 and a cross-bar 29 which forms aconnecting portion between said legs. In the application of thestap1es'26 to the bottom construction of the container, the ends 3I and32 of the legs 21 and 28 are bent over upon the inner surface 33 of theannulus 22, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The hoop I3 is constructed from a straight narrow strip of sheet metalwhich is folded longitudinally along a medial line to form a straightU-shaped structure having two spaced flanges 34 and 35. These flangesare connected together by means of a connecting portion 36 which extendstransversely of the hoop and which serves as a rim or base on which thecontainer rests. The straight U-shaped structure so formed is then runthrough crimping rolls which engage the flange 35 and crimp the same toform corrugations 31 in said flange. By means of this method ofconstruction the length of the flange 35 is reduced as compared to thelength of the flange 34 and the formerly straight structure is convertedinto circular form. Thereafter the ends of the flanges are securedtogether as by riveting, soldering or welding to form a hoop of thedesired circumferential dimensions. A portion of a hoop so formed isillustrated in Fig. 4.

In applying the hoop I3 to the container, the lowermost marginal portionI! of the wall structure II, the flange I5 of bottom I2 and the annulus22 are jointly inserted into the space 38 of the hoop I3 formed betweenthe flanges 34 and 35 and above the base 36. While the parts are sodisposed, scoring rolls are applied to the outer flange 34 and apunching roll applied to the inner flange 35 of the hoop. These rollsare brought toward one another and as the bottom structure of thecontainer passes between said rolls, the outer flange 34 of hoop I3 isformed with two inwardly extending beads- 39 and 40. At the same time,the inner flange 35 is formed with a plurality of barbs H which extendtoward the beads 39 and 40. This produces in the marginal portion II ofthe wall structure II grooves 42 and 43 which receive the beads 39 and40 and in surface 33 of annulus 22 indentations 44 which receive thebarbs 4I. By means of this construction the various parts of the bottomconstruction of the container are held together and the hoop I3 securedto the container. Due to the fact that the material from which the wallstructure II of the body II) of the container A is constructed issomewhat flexible, a rib 43 is formed on said wall structure oppositethe head 39 which extends into the interior of the container. The bead39 is so disposed that the rib 46 fllls in the space 2| formed by therounded corner I6 of the bottom I2 which serves as a fillet and at thesame time assists in holding the parts attached to one another. It willbe noted that the hoop l3 in addition to holding the parts attached toone another and restraining relative movement thereof, forms a guardwhich protects the lowermost edges I8, I9 and 25 of the flange I5, wallstructure II and the annulus 22 respectively and which further coversand protects the cross-bars 29 of staples 26 as well as the turned overends 3| and 32 of said staples. The rim or base 36 of the hoop I3 servesas a support for the container proper and also functions as a skid bymeans of which the container may be readily slid on the surface on whichit rests.

Due to the fact that the lowermost construction of the container isincreased in thickness through the use of the annulus and theenlargement of the hoop, a more rigid and substantial construction isprovided. The annulus in addition to filling up the space occasionedthrough the increase in width of the base of the hoop, serves toreinforce and stiffen the bottom construction of the container. By theuse of a hoop with a base of dimensions such as disclosed in thisapplication, skidding of the tub upon the floor is greatly facilitated.At the same time wear on the rim or base portion of the hoop isconsiderably reduced.

With a container constructed in accordance with my invention, the bottomis firmly and securely held attached to the wall structure. Due to theparticular form of the hoop and due to the annulus employed, a much morerigid and substantial construction is provided than would otherwise bepossible. By means of the staples used for holding the various parts ofthe container attached to one another, part of the strain which wouldordinarily be exerted upon the hoop is taken up by the staples. Thisprevents the hoop from becoming loosened. With my invention the flangesof the hoop are so designed as to cover and protect the staples, therebypreventing disengagement of the same and holding the parts of thecontainer rigidly secured together.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and along the lowermost marginal portion of said wall structure,an annulus disposed adjacent the inner surface of said bottom flange,fastening means for securing the lowermost portion of said wallstructure, bottom flange and annulus together, and a hoop U-shaped incrosssection, embracing the lower marginal portion of the wallstructure, bottom flange and annulus, said hoop covering and protectingsaid fastening means.

2. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom, a hoop U-shaped in cross-section embracing the lowermost portionof said wall structure and bottom flange and having flanges spaced aparta distance greater than the combined thickness of said wall structureand bottom flange to provide a space between said hoop flanges, and anannulus disposed within said space and serving as a flller therefor andin conjunction with said wall structure and bottom flange completelyfilling up the entire space between said hoop flanges.

3. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and along the lowermost marginal portion of said wall structure,fastening means for securing said bottom flange to the lowermostmarginal portion of the wall structure of the container and a hoopU-shaped in cross-section and embracing said bottom flange and thelowermost marginal portion of the wall structure of said container, saidhoop concealing and protecting said fastening means.

4. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and along the lowermost marginal portion of said wall structure,staples extending through the bottom flange and lowermost marginalportion of said wall structure and a hoop U-shaped in cross-section andembracing said bottom flange and the lowermost marginal portion of thewall structure, said hoop covering and protecting the cross-bar and endsof the legs of said staples.

5. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and along the lowermost marginal portion of said wall structure,an annulus disposed adjacent the inner surface of said bottom flange,staples extending through the annulus, bottom flange and the lowermostmarginal portion of the wall structure and a hoop, U-shaped incross-section embracing the lower marginal portion of the wallstructure, bottom flange and annulus, said hoop having flanges, coveringand protecting the cross-bar and ends of the legs of said staples.

6. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and along the lowermost marginal portion of said wall structure,a hoop having a flange extending along the outer surface of the wallstructure and a base extending inwardly therefrom and beneath thelowermost edges of the wall structure and bottom flange, said basehaving a supporting surface of a width greater than the combinedthickness of the wall structure and bottom flange.

7. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and along the lowermost marginal portion of said wall structure,a hoop U-shaped in cross-section having spaced flanges embracing saidbottom flange and the lowermost marginal portion of the wall structureand further having a base connecting said flanges, said base being of awidth greater than the combined thickness of the lowermost marginalportion of the wall structure, bottom flange and hoop flanges.

8. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and along the lowermost marginal portion of said wall structure,an annulus constructed of paper and disposed adjacent the inner surfaceof said bottom flange, a hoop U-shaped in cross-section embracing thelower marginal portion of the wall structure, bottom flange and annulusand having spaced flanges engaging the outer surface of the wallstructure and the inner surface of the annulus, said inner hoop flangehaving parts imbedded in the annulus to secure the annulus and hooptogether.

9. In a container having a separate wall structure, a bottom extendingacross said wall structure, a flange extending downwardly from saidbottom and lying along the inner surface of said wall structure, a hoopU-shaped in cross-section embracing the lowermost portion of said wallstructure and bottom flange, and having a base of a width greater thanthe combined thickness of the wall structure and bottom flange andfurther having flanges extending upwardly therefrom, the outer of saidhoop flanges engaging the wall structure upon the exterior thereof andthe inner of said hoop flanges being disposed inwardly of the innersurface of the bottom flange to form a space therebetween, and anannulus disposed within said space and filling said space between saidinner hoop flange and wall structure and cooperating therewith toreinforce the bottom flange of the container.

DAVID C. SHEPARD.

